The justice system of the Victorian Era was a very harsh system because there was a great increase in the crime rates in the 18th century from 5,000 to 20,000 and even resulted in the creation of a police department. This police department was an advance from the parish constables that were scattered throughout the country. In the Victorian Era, the criminals would be caught and either sent to trial or the gaol (jail). In the court, the judges and prosecutors would have the greatest power in the short and quick trials. There were a few cases in which the court tried to make an example by punishing heavily such as public beheading. Other harsh punishments would be transporting the criminal to a colony far off. The real punishments could be categorized in four categories. Separation and silence was the most common which would mean confinement alone in their cell which many times would lack light. Hard Labour would be the second most common in which the criminals were put to various works including public service acts. Punishment and reward was a rare case in which the criminals would excel in their punishment and show redemption causing an early release from the gaol. Rehabilitation and reform was given to the weak criminals who did not do huge crimes. They were given a good standard of living, food and water. There were many disastrous criminals who struck fear into the heart of many people. Lucy Lowes was a woman who was convicted for her baby girl and there was the Aaron Layton who was the Ely rioter to be hanged but escaped because there were too many people to be hanged. There was also the infamous murderer Jack the Ripper who murdered young women in the night causing fear in everyone in London. This person was never caught but many others were. Not only major criminals were caught but many petty criminals as well. John Walker is a great example that only stole onions and was stuck in the gaol. He wasn’t the only one since other people were jailed for stealing table linen and bread. The justice system was very harsh on everyone and tried to make examples out of people to control the crime rates. This system might have been the most effective as well as the best system in the Victorian Era.
Bibliography
"Victorian Crime and Punishment from E2BN." Victorian Crime and Punishment from E2BN. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://vcp.e2bn.org/>.
"BBC NEWS | UK | Rough justice - Victorian style." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2010.
Further Research http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8181192.stm
This site is a good place to start further research because it is a good article about the crime in Victorian Era. It is a reliable BBC site that has good information as well as examples about the justice done and criminals in the Victorian Era.
http://vcp.e2bn.org/
This is another good site that is a very interactive and fun site to use. It contains many stories as well as pictures about the criminals and their cases in the Victorian Era. It has extensive descriptions of the gaols (jails) and the punishment that the people received in well organized pages that are easy and fun to read.
Victorian Justice Se June Han
The justice system of the Victorian Era was a very harsh system because there was a great increase in the crime rates in the 18th century from 5,000 to 20,000 and even resulted in the creation of a police department. This police department was an advance from the parish constables that were scattered throughout the country. In the Victorian Era, the criminals would be caught and either sent to trial or the gaol (jail). In the court, the judges and prosecutors would have the greatest power in the short and quick trials. There were a few cases in which the court tried to make an example by punishing heavily such as public beheading. Other harsh punishments would be transporting the criminal to a colony far off. The real punishments could be categorized in four categories. Separation and silence was the most common which would mean confinement alone in their cell which many times would lack light. Hard Labour would be the second most common in which the criminals were put to various works including public service acts. Punishment and reward was a rare case in which the criminals would excel in their p
Bibliography
- "Victorian Crime and Punishment from E2BN." Victorian Crime and Punishment from E2BN. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://vcp.e2bn.org/>.
- "BBC NEWS | UK | Rough justice - Victorian style." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2010.
- Lombardi, Esther. "Victorian Period - A Time of Change." Books & Literature Classics. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://classiclit.about.com/od/victorianliteratu/a/aa_victorian.htm0>.
Cited ImagesFurther Research
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8181192.stm
This site is a good place to start further research because it is a good article about the crime in Victorian Era. It is a reliable BBC site that has good information as well as examples about the justice done and criminals in the Victorian Era.
http://vcp.e2bn.org/
This is another good site that is a very interactive and fun site to use. It contains many stories as well as pictures about the criminals and their cases in the Victorian Era. It has extensive descriptions of the gaols (jails) and the punishment that the people received in well organized pages that are easy and fun to read.